Inscription On The Dam Built By Caliph Mu‘āwiya, 58 AH / 678 CE

Islamic Awareness

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First Composed: 6th September 2000

Last Modified: 20th March 2008

Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

(a)

(b)

Figure: (a) Image of the inscription and (b) its transcription.

Date

58 AH / 678 CE.

Script

Kufic. The right hand side shows transcription of the inscription.

It is interesting to note that this inscription shows the use of consonantal points for ي, ب, ن, ث, خ, ف, and ت. Compare it with another dam inscription from the time of Mu‘āwiya. This establishes beyond doubt that in the sixth decade of the hijra certain letters were already pointed.

Contents

The translation of the inscription is:

  1. This dam [belongs] to servant of God Mu‘āwiya,

  2. Commander of the believers. ‘Abdullāh b. Ṣakhr built it

  3. with the permission of Allāh, in the year fifty eight. O

  4. Allah, pardon servant of God Mu‘āwiya, c-

  5. ommander of the believers, and strengthen him, and make him victorious, and grant the

  6. Commander of the believers the enjoyment of it. ‘Amr b. Ḥabbab wrote [it].

Location

Near Ṭa'if in the Ḥijaz, Saudi Arabia.

References

[1] G. C. Miles, "Early Islamic Inscriptions Near Ta'if In The Hijaz", 1948, Journal Of Near Eastern Studies, Volume VII, pp. 236-242.

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